Myst058

Charge of the Dark Goddess

Night is the cloak of the Dark Goddess of Transformation; Wisdom and prophecy are her gifts. She is known to us as Kali, Cerridwen, Lilith, Hecate, Persephone, Arianhod, Tiamat, The Morrigan, or simply The Crone; the Dark One is Infinite. These are the words of the Dark Goddess, heed them well. Hear Me, child, and know Me for who I am. I have been at your side since the day you came to be, and will stay by your side until you come to Me in the final darkening of the light. I am the the passionate, fiery one who inspires the poet to dream of the future. I am She who calls all things back to the Cauldron, who grants Her children blessed rest and peace in Her embrace. I am the Womb, the place which all life springs from. I am the Wild Magess, the sorceress who cannot be ruled, the Weaver of the Rune, the Mistress of Time, the Teacher of Mysteries and Keeper of Secrets. I cut the threads of silver, I slit the throats of the cruel and drink the blood of the coward, I feed My crows with carrion crop. Have no fear when you face me, children, for I am your protector, the one to whom you will turn for peace. Fear is crippling; cast it aside and you shall know inner peace, strength, courage and beauty in the night. I am the fury that rends asunder the unjust heart, the maelstrom that destroys the wicked and the foul. I am the brilliant forge that tempers the Inner Beast, turns disharmony and falsehood to a source of great power. Open yourself to the embrace of the Night-clad Lady, and overcome the demons of your mind. I am the crucible that shapes all; the realm in which all parts of Self are joined, in which All become One. I am the velvet tones of the midnight sky, the swirling mysts of the moonlit vale; I am the Mistress of the Winter Night, She who is shrouded in Mystery and Magick. I am the glinting sword that protects you from harm, the promise of violence that ceases all fighting. I am the Shroud, the chrysalis in which we all must face our fears and conquer them; the place from which we burst forth anew. Seek me at the Crossroads, and you shall be transformed; for once you look upon the face of Death, there is no return to what you have been, only to what you are to become. I am the searing fire that burns away the shackles of ignorance, the Cauldron in which the Waters flow deep and darkening, She who in which all opposites learn truth and tolerance for one another. I am the Healer of all wounds, the Warrior who rights all wrongs in her time. I make the weak strong; I make the arrogant humble. I raise up the oppressed by the Power within them; that of instinct and feral longing that only comes of great need. I am Justice tempered with Wisdom, a Vengeance tempered with Mercy. Most importantly, children, I am you; I am part of and within you all. Look for me within and without, and you will find strength. Come and know Me, for I should not be lost. Light without Dark is blinding, just as Darkness without Light swallows all. Roam into the dark and find yourself, find your balance, and walk in beauty. Take Me with you always, and have the Power to be whatever you wish. These are the words of the Dark Goddess, blessed be Her name

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies
I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see
I say
It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style
I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud
I say
It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care
'Cause I'm a

woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

By Maya Angelou